People who enter America illegally or overstay their visas aren’t “illegal immigrants.” They’re “out of status” new Americans, Dem Rep. John Conyers explained at a House Judiciary hearing on immigration Tuesday.

Conyers: “I hope nobody uses the term ‘illegal immigrant’…they are out of status” #CIR#immigration#HJC

Conyers also called illegal immigrants “citizens” before catching himself:

I hope no one uses the term “illegal immigrants” here today. Our citizens are not … the people in this country are not illegal, they are out of status, they are new Americans that are immigrants, and I think that we can forge a path to citizenship that will be able to pass muster.